Every three years, over 1,000 Anglicans from across North America gather for an incredible time of worship, teaching, and prayer at the Provincial Assembly. Usually these conferences are a plane-flight away, but this year’s conference is being hosted by Resurrection at Wheaton College!
As part of the Assembly, a Youth Gathering has been organized where youth groups will join the adults for morning sessions and then have their own breakout sessions with prominent speakers, in addition to games and other activities. This is an all-inclusive (food + lodging) three-day experience!
Additionally, since the theme of the conference is “Mission on Our Doorstep,” we’ll partner with other Anglican youth groups for a four-day mission trip to Chicago. I visited the missions organization we are partnering with and they are the real deal. I expect that our students’ hearts for mission and for the lost and the least will grow through this experience.
Please speak to your child about this incredible opportunity. You may have already seen the Save the Date that went home with them from RezYouth. For more information and some FAQ’s (safety? how will we pay for this?), please see our info site here and attend the upcoming Student/Parent Info Meeting on 4/19, from 6:30-7:00pm, in the St. Timothy room.
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FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Tell me more about the Provincial Assembly…
Is this event for youth or adults?
BOTH! And we don’t just mean that youth are invited to a conference that’s really for their parents! Will has been working with a team of Anglican youth pastors from around the country to make sure that that our afternoon and evening programming is specifically targeted at Junior and Senior High students. Our students will have their own breakout sessions, their own time with plenary speakers, their own worship, and their own games and activities. The significantly discounted rate for youth is evidence of the Province’s investment in our students.
My child is only able to come to the Assembly and not the mission trip. Is that okay?
Yup!
Who is supervising?
RezYouth leaders will be staying in the dorms with students and supervising just like we would during a RezYouth retreat.
I would to like to register my child to come to the conference, but I don’t want them to participate in the Youth Gathering. I want them to attend the conference with me.
The RezYouth registration form is only for RezYouth students participating in the Youth Track.
If you want your student to join you for the entirety of the conference and do not want them to participate in the Youth Gathering, you must register them with you using your information on the Provincial website. After filling out your information, under additional fees, enter the number of youth ages 13-18 who will be joining you. The additional ticket cost of $135 will be added to your adult registration. (Please note: only youth who are participating in the Youth Track may stay on campus with RezYouth students and volunteers).
All adults must register through the official registration form. Don’t forget, if you live locally and do not need to stay on campus, you can register for a reduced price of $175 by using the discount code CHICAGOLAND. This code is strictly for local residents; please do not use this code for out-of-town friends, or if you would like to stay on-campus.
Tell me more about the mission trip…
Who are you partnering with?
We will be serving under the direction of the Center for Student Missions (CSM), which runs student mission trips in eleven cities in the United States and Mexico. Their purpose is to provide an “urban ministry experience that transforms lives, influences churches and communities, and honors Christ.”
What’s the CSM philosophy?
CSM is a bridge-builder. They partner with existing organizations who have been serving the city of Chicago and will continue to do so long after our group leaves. In addition to serving, CSM wants students to experience the city and learn about its challenges. That means learning about the history of the neighborhoods we’re serving, eating at local restaurants, and getting to know folks living in the city. CSM is committed to doing ministry under principles discussed in books like When Helping Hurts.
What kinds of things will our students be doing?
Since our group is so large (including the other youth groups from around the Province), it’s impossible to give an exact itinerary, but activities will likely include volunteering at soup kitchens, prayer tours of neighborhoods, and (for high school students) immersion activities to experience what life is like for people on the margins.
Is this safe?
YES! Our students will be staying on the campus of North Park University in the Albany Park neighborhood. CSM staff members will accompany us everywhere we go.
It sounds great, but how will my family pay for this?
We completely understand that money can feel like a significant barrier to this type of experience. That is why all students participating will be required to help fundraise to cover costs. RezYouth will lead a seminar for students on how to write support letters that are inviting and respectful. Additionally, while $399 is a steep price-tag, it is actually quite affordable in comparison to similar week-long experiences. We are confident that if a student is excited about growing their heart for mission through this experience, they will be able to raise every dollar needed.
